What is neonatal tetanus?

neonatal tetanus, also known as LockJaw, is a disease caused by exposure to bacteria present in the soil. Symptoms include muscle cramps, rigid body and convulsions. Infant infants may treat, but early diagnosis is critical for survival. Neonatal tetanus can be easily prevented through vaccines and sterile supplies. This disease is common in rural areas and undeveloped countries and has an extremely high mortality rate on infants. It creates a neurotoxin or poison when it grows in dead tissues such as dirty wounds or umbilical cords. Once the bacteria enters the body, it grows quickly and produces toxin. Infants could be exposed to him when the umbilical cord is cut with a dirty tool or when delivery is delivered under conditions that are not sterile.

The symptoms of a newborn tetanus may not occur several days after exposure to bacteria. Infants with disease usually experience muscle cramps and stiffness, especially in the jaw, and can also spread to the abdomen, arms and thighs. As a disease of the postIt is common for infants to have painful convulsions and difficulty breathing. They also have problems sucking and swallowing, and in many cases their mouths cannot open, leading to starvation and death.

neonatal tetanus can be treated, but early diagnosis and treatment are decisive for any chance of survival. Antibiotics can be used to kill bacteria and neutralize toxins. Drugs can also help control muscle cramps. The wounds should also be cleaned where the bacteria could enter and remove the dead tissue.

The administration of vaccines can be done to prevent newborn tetanus. In most developed countries, infants receive vaccines against tetanus aged 2 years and strengthening shots are performed periodically for the rest of their lives. If they have not been previously vaccinated, infants may receive vaccines against tetanus after injury that makes them susceptible to the disease to try to prevent themselves. Vaccines can also be givenpregnant women before or during pregnancy to pass on immunity to their children. In addition, it is important to have sanitary conditions for the supply of infants and use the right umbilical cables to be clean.

Unlike developed countries, where neonatal tetanus is very rare, infants are exposed to a higher risk of infecting diseases in countries that do not accentuate or where they are born in a non -sterile environment. The most common is for infants to gain illness in the first month of life and in most cases it is fatal. Even in the treatment of many infants with a newborn tetanus within a few days after the onset of symptoms.